Darrah Brustein is a young powerhouse female CEO. She is also an author known for founding the innovative payment processing platform, Equitable Payments, as well as the rapidly growing networking group Network Under 40 and Network Over 40. We love how passionate she is about giving back by creating companies that make a difference, and her many impressive accomplishments.

“I began my career in fashion where I heard countless horror stories of businesses dealing with their payment processing systems, and I knew there had to be a better way to manage payments. I founded Equitable Payments in 2009 with my twin brother, and today we are in 38 states,” says Brustein. It was through her experience that she witnessed the need for better resources for parents to teach their children about finance.

“I created Finance Whiz Kids and authored a series of six books that teach principles ranging from the value of a dollar, to short and long-term savings, to sharing, giving back, and the mystery of the ATM. I knew that by creating these tools, children could better learn about finance, and parents would have the right tools to teach them about this topic that is still considered taboo.” In 2013, Brustein was invited to attend the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos to represent on youth financial literacy, and her networking organizations continue to grow in cities like Baltimore and DC, after becoming the largest monthly social and professional networking organization in Atlanta.